Christmas came early to New Belvedere House this year with the delivery of 50 gift-wrapped packages for residents. No Santa and no sleigh, but a minibus from RAF Halton where a joint effort between airmen and the station’s local Tesco Extra at Broadfield Retail Park raised enough to bring additional cheer to the Veterans Aid hostel.
Sqn Ldr Phil Poole and Sgt Matt Rodda helped unload the boxes before meeting staff and residents for a buffet lunch. They also presented the hostel with a plaque inscribed ‘On behalf of Airmen’s Command Squadron, RAF Halton, thank you Veterans Aid for supporting the military family past, present and future’.
They were joined by CEO of Veterans Aid Dr Hugh Milroy and Branch Manager of Barclays Sloane Square, Mr David Carter. On hand to capture the event for Forces TV and BFBS were reporter Carla Prater and cameraman Chris Giles.
Retired Wing Commander Dr Milroy said, “It’s been great to welcome some light blue visitors here and I’m particularly touched that the guys at Halton chose our charity to benefit from their efforts. We have men from all the Services here but I know our RAF residents will be particularly pleased to see familiar uniforms.
“Veterans Aid is a family and Christmas is a family time, so we do our best to make everyone here feel valued and wanted. This hostel is transformational and part of it is already benefiting from the refurbishment and upgrade work that will take it to the next level.”
Building work at the hostel’s Old Rectory is taking place with the support of NGO Habitat for Humanity and global corporate Bloomberg. Volunteers from all areas of Bloomberg have been getting down and dirty to paint, plaster and act as labourers from the start of the project and it’s estimated that 1,200 employees will have been involved by its conclusion.
Dr Milroy said, “On average residents stay at New Belvedere House around nine months. It costs us £6k a year to look after one person and we typically spend a further £5/6k on training, development and move-on accommodation. When people leave here they are set up for success and in most cases the only time we see them again is at periods like Christmas where many come back to see staff and old friends.”
After the visit Sqn Ldr Poole said, “It was a pleasure to spend time with the residents and learn more about the fantastic work of this excellent charity. I hope we can continue to foster the relationship between VA and Airmen’s Command Squadron in the New Year.”
Sgt Rodda added, “No two veterans are the same; neither are their needs and Veterans Aid understands this. Hugh and his team have allowed ACS a mere glimpse of what is being hailed as a unique and inspiring global model of open and non-judgmental care, providing the necessary support to veterans who can build confidence, self-esteem and coping mechanisms to move forward successfully in life and flourish. I am both humbled and grateful for everything that Veterans Aid have done for the Forces Family.”
David Carter said, “It was a real pleasure to see the great work by Veterans Aid first hand on my first visit to the hostel today. Hugh and the team are to be commended for their wonderful enthusiasm and vision in promoting positivity, honesty and a self help attitude. All these factors contribute to making a huge difference to the lives of the guys and helping them get back on track.”
New Belvedere House residents will enjoy a festive dinner on Christmas Eve and a private day ’at home’ on Christmas Day.
